Chevrolet Optra Magnum starts a new life in Russia as the Uz-Daewoo Gentra

Nithyanandh K, As a toddler, those wheeled machinery fascinated me even before I knew what they’re called as! So here I'm, petrolhead by birth, Mechanical engineer by qualification and automotive reporter by profession!

Latest

Just a few days ago we reported on how the Chevrolet Optra Magnum is getting ready to start a new innings in Russia as a Uz-Daewoo.

The Gentra is an Optra Magnum with a new grill and bumper.

Spyshots of the car revealed a front fascia very similar to that of the Optra Magnum, discontinued last year in India.

We’re reopening this topic to report that the car has been launched in Russia under the identity ‘Gentra’. Interestingly Gentra is the name the Chevy Aveo uses in many Asian countries.

Now you see the relationship between the Gentra and Optra clearly!

The Russian Gentra started its life in Korea as a Daewoo Nubira after which it wore the bowtie, calling itself the Chevrolet Lacetti. In India it was called as the Optra, and later as the Optra Magnum with a redesigned nose and a immensely powerful diesel engine.

Interiors are exactly the same as the Optra Magnum.

While the Optra is sold as a Chevrolet by GM-Uzbekistan, the Gentra (with the Optra Magnum nose) will be sold as a Uz-Daewoo. The other cars in Uz-Daewoo portfolio are the Matiz and the Nexia.

The Lacetti, which is essentially the earlier version of the Optra in India, is sold in Russia as a Chevrolet.

While Gentra’s headlamps are similar to those of the Optra Magnum, the grill and the bumper are redesigned. The car is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine which puts out 105 bhp and can be opted with either a manual or an automatic transmission. The manual version has a claimed mileage of 11.82 kmpl and the automatic version delivers 10.57 kmpl.

The image of the Optra Magnum is added for your reference.

Standard equipment include airbags, immobilizer and fog lights while features like heated seats, music system and controls for audio system on the steering wheel are optional extras.

The Gentra is the flagship sedan for Uz-Daewoo with a starting price of 399,000 Rubles (around Rs. 7.08 lakhs).